School achievement as an independent predictor of smoking in childhood and early adolescence

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Abstract
THIS study was designed to examine the relative value of academic achievement as an independent predictor of young people smoking. A wide range of variables was used in the analyses, including measures related to family background, attitudes to smoking, exposure to smoking among family and friends, and self-esteem. After the effect of these variables had been taken into account, academic achievement at age 9 was not related to smoking at age 9 but academic achievement at age 11 was related to a change in smoking from age 9 to 11 years, and for boys, further change in smoking from age 11 to age 13. Other predictors of smoking at these ages varied as a function of age and gender.